DD 886 u.s.s. Orleck design process

[FRD]

Thanks Don, as soon as I finish these last three pages of graphics, I'll then build a color prototype before putting, "the final stamp" on production.

[FRD]

The primary objective is that the "first-timer" not only have a, "joyful" experience but more importantly, a SUCCESSFUL first experience.

[FRD]

When Lou and I first discussed it 40 years ago, he said that, "lil' Johnny and Mrs. Jones" have never seen a card model before, but they have an, "Uncle Joe or Cousin Bob" who has, once they recognize what it is, it's like a little, "lightbulb" goes off in their head and immediately start to think, ,"Hey!, I know a guy who would like this!"

In the US they are still considered a, "novelty" in gift shops, as the Magic Eightball and the Hula-hoop would suggest, never underestimate the sales potential of a novelty.

[FRD]

This student version is being designed specifically, "for ages 10 and up".

[FRD]

This is definitely, "different" from what you may be used to seeing as it is WAY, "old school", the simple, line code that Lou told me to use 40 years ago, I've been using it ever since.

Very, very simple, a solid line represents a cut, a dash line represents a fold away from you, a crossed dash line indicates a fold toward you and the dot-dash line indicates an area to receive a part.

It could not be more simple, the lines are purposely bold.

These are close ups of some detail, in this small scale it makes no sense wasting time on photo-realism on things to be seen.

What I learned to do over the decades is to make 2D appear more 3D by simply, "tricking the eye", as with art, a singular light source is established, in this case it's off of the Port bow.

Shadowing is done by the mere use of light and dark, rudimentary lines based on that light source.

The deck in this small scale is purposely coarse to contrast the objects on the deck.

[FRD]

The reason for the rudimentary lines is that, in this small scale, that is what is required to perceive, in this example, note the portal shading.

Easily viewed if greatly magnified, in-perceivable in actual scale.

This is an example of the water tight door, the entire surface is less than 1/2 in. (12.7mm) tall.

An example of the shading technique will readily be demonstrated when I do the gun mounts, one faces forward, the other aft, it's not as simple as "mirroring" one mount because the projection of the light source will affect each very differently because of their rotation in relation to the source.

Things are about to get very interesting (stay tuned)

[aansorge]

Yet again, more to look forward to.


Thanks for continuing to share...


al

[FRD]

Thanks aansorge, you would have to admit, my design style is definitely, "different" but it works...

[FRD]

This is a very good example of how you can achieve 3D effects using basic, base color lines, they can be seen in these images but they are very small in reality, that's why the lines used for shading are bold and exaggerated, effectively, "tricking the eye" into seeing things that couldn't be seen otherwise.

I am currently accommodating the "rivet-counters" (you guys know who you are) and I can assure you that every last little rivet is accounted for!

[FRD]

This shows the application of the line shading in conjuncture with added drop shadows.


To my dismay, I assumed that the gun mounts were rivets as with the rest of the ship but to my surprise, upon reviewing reference materials, they are not rivets at all but rather, they are hex bolts, again, the line shading was deployed.


The, "beauty-thing" about it is, I took a great deal of time doing the page layup to accommodate precision die cutting, the dies will NEVER change but by doing limited press-runs of 500 copies, the 2D graphics minus any change of part configuration or position can be continuously improved between press runs. (that's always a good thing)